Biometric authenticated content

ABSTRACT

A method for biometric authentication has the steps of sending a confidential communication to an intended recipient through the system, the intended recipient providing one or more biometric identifiers to view the communication, wherein the one or more biometric identifiers are unique to the intended recipient, the system verifying the one or more biometric identifiers against one or more stored biometric identifiers, the system accepting the one or more biometric identifiers further has the steps of the system displaying the confidential communication on the mobile device, and the user continues to provide the one or more biometric identifiers, the system continuously verifying the one or more biometric identifiers while the communication is displayed wherein when the verification is uninterrupted of fails the communication is hidden.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to the field of content that is viewable only based on biometric authentication.

2. Description of Related Art

Content, such as text messages, are typically sent between people and are visible to the user of the phone, regardless of the particular user's authorization to view a message. In current SMS there is no means of connecting a message with a particular user, rather it is connected with a device. Third-party SMS messages such as WHATSAPP authenticate the user on a particular device, but the application and communications are then open to anyone who has access to view the device. Typically an app, once enabled and authenticated on a phone, remains viewable to anyone who has access to unlock the phone.

In any event, messages are not tied to particular users, rather the user id is tied to a user, so while the mailbox is tied to a user, individual messages cannot have a further layer of authentication to identify the actual person viewing the message, and cannot be differentially authenticated to different users, particularly within a group message setting.

In addition, passwords do not ensure that a particular user is viewing the authenticated message. The password typically ensures that the application has, at one point, been authenticated to the user on the phone, but there is a disconnect with the particular user that is intended to be authenticated. Biometrics ensure that an actual person is being authenticated for a particular message, and may include fingerprint, retina scan, facial recognition, or other biometric indicators. However, if the user is simply authenticated, then the authentication may remain after the user has departed, and another user may see the authenticated message.

Based on the foregoing, there is a need in the art for a messaging system that permits individual messages to be biometrically authenticated to individual viewers, rather than the owners of the general mailbox of the messaging application. Preferably, the biometric authentication is maintained periodically or the entire time that the authenticated content is being viewed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A method for biometric authentication has the steps of sending a confidential communication to an intended recipient through the system; the intended recipient providing one or more biometric identifiers to view the communication, wherein the one or more biometric identifiers are unique to the intended recipient, the system verifying the one or more biometric identifiers against one or more stored biometric identifiers, the system accepting the one or more biometric identifiers further has the steps of the system displaying the confidential communication on the mobile device, and the user continues to provide the one or more biometric identifiers, the system continuously verifying the one or more biometric identifiers while the communication is displayed wherein when the verification is uninterrupted or fails the communication is hidden.

In one embodiment, the method has the further steps of a user creating a profile, wherein the user inputs the one or more biometric identifiers during the profile creation; and the system storing the one or more biometric identifiers on a storage media.

In a further embodiment, the system may have the step of the system displaying a confidential communication transmission notification to indicate the receipt of a confidential communication.

The step of the user providing one biometric identifier may further comprise the user submitting a sequence of biometric identifiers. If the verification of the at least one biometric identifier fails, the messaging device performs an action selected from the group consisting of powering the messaging device down, displaying a non-confidential information, and displaying selected information, wherein the selected information is predetermined by the user. One or more biometric identifiers may be selected from the group consisting of fingerprints, voice prints, and facial features.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present invention, the objects and advantages thereof, reference is now made to the ensuing descriptions taken in connection with the accompanying drawings briefly described as follows.

FIGS. 1A and 1B are example screenshots of the system in operation, according to an embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the biometric messaging method, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Preferred embodiments of the present invention and their advantages may be understood by referring to FIGS. 1-2, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements.

In the present method, a biometric identification system is used to authenticate messages with the known presence of the particular user through continued authentication.

In step 5, the application is loaded onto a messaging device that has a biometric identifier. In step 10, the user registers on the application, and provides unique biometric information to uniquely identify the user for authentication purposes, which information is stored. In step 15, a message is created by a sender for receipt by the user, wherein the sender selects the user to be a unique recipient of the message, which is then linked to the unique user through a secure biometric library. In step 20, the message is sent to the user's application. In step 25, the message is received by the application, but is not immediately viewable. In step 30 a message indicator, such as a blank space in the conversation list, is shown that indicates a message for the eyes of the unique user alone. In step 35, the user sees the indicator and engages with the biometric identifier to uniquely authenticate the user. While the user is authenticated, the hidden message is displayed. Once the user disengages from the biometric identifier in step 40, the message is once again hidden, so it is only displayed while the biometric identification is continually engaged. In one embodiment, the hidden message is shown in the gap in the conversation, which forms the indicator. In step 45, the message ages out and is deleted within a certain limited time.

The biometric identifier may comprise a fingerprint scanner, a retina scanner, facial recognition features of the camera, a voice authorization system or other recognition system that is able to uniquely identify a user through biometrics.

In an embodiment, the recipient user is known within the system and selectable through a list of know user connection. In an alternative embodiment, the recipient user is not within the known list. The unknown user receives a notification whereby the system provides a unique invitation to the recipient device for establishing a local system on the recipient user device. When the local system is established, the recipient user then provides the stored biometric authentication to the system. The system verifies the supplied biometric authentication against a set of established, and initially provided biometric identifiers.

In an embodiment, the message indicator is inconspicuous and is provided by the system to mimic standard functionally of the device, while the user is aware of the possible indicator. For example, the system provides an altered font or color of font for exiting indicators such as the battery meter of the device, as the message indicator. In another example, the system displays one or more images such as pictures or news articles that are known to the user to indicate a pending message. After the message indicator is received, the user then engages the system to authenticate their identity and view the pending messages.

In an embodiment, authorization requires the combination of two or more biometric verification platforms. For example, a user is required to provide tactile verification in combination with vocal sample. The system establishes an appropriate sequence of biometric inputs for authorization through the biometric database and the user-established inputs. In another embodiment, the sequence of required biometric input has a time sensitive attribute whereby the time sequence is established as the time between the user initiated start of sequence input to the time of entry for the final input. In another embodiment, if the sequence is input correctly or the time has elapsed after multiple attempts, the system will provide an altered or secondary sequence required to remove the system from a locked-out mode to operational status. As an illustrative example of the sequence layers of authorization, upon initial system setup, a user selects multi-level sequence authorization. The user further establishes a sequence within the system or selects automatic sequence options presented by the system. Once the sequence is established, for example tactile in combination with voice and facial recognition, the user verifies the appropriate input for each layer and the sequence is then maintained within the system.

In another embodiment, the tactile sequencing involves the user contacting the device with different fingerprints in a unique sequence. Fingerprints are initially stored within the system to correspond with the appropriate user. For example, the sequence may be for the user to first place their first digit, then third digit, then first digit, then fourth digit and hold for a period of five seconds.

In an alternative embodiment, the identification system operates under pseudo-authorized conditions. A pseudo-authorization is a process wherein the system establishes variables to be input by a user whereby the variables are components to the authorization algorithm. The variables include existing biometric platforms. However, when presented in a specific combination detailed by the unique algorithm established by the system, specific to the system user, the system will initiate under pseudo-authorized protocols. As a physical barrier safeguard, the system operates under these protocols to present only select data and information. In another embodiment, the user established a separate set of information to be presented within the system as a facade under the pseudo-authorization protocols.

The system has a capability of receiving the geo-location of the device, and may map this location to the message. The geolocation may be triggered by the engagement of the biometrics. Further, the messages may comprise video or audio messages. Live video or audio may also be revealed once the biometric identification are engaged and maintained. The biometric identification may also by used to unlock hidden folders for the authorized user, and sharing of files may be permitted by the biometric identification. While the biometric authorization is maintained, the folders selected to be secret are available to the user. When the biometric authorization ceases, standard operation of the device resumes allowing for general access to generic device functionality. The sender may select different levels of security to determine how long a message or file is revealed based on a successful authentication.

In an embodiment, the different levels of security are maintained within the same local system. The local system allows for access to specified levels of security based on the different biometric input. For example, different levels of security are achieved by the duration of authentication, the sequence of authentication, or the specific authorized user inputting the biometric identifier.

In an alternative embodiment, a user establishes the local system whereby the user inputs various biometric identifiers. When this user engages the system, the biometric identifiers are matched against the established identifiers from the initial system setup. When an unauthorized user attempts to access the device through engaging one or more biometric sensors or one or more buttons on the device, the device will remain inoperable as if the power source of the device is depleted. As a security measure, the appropriate user may select additional security to allow for the misconception that the device does not have enough battery power to operate.

The invention has been described herein using specific embodiments for the purposes of illustration only. It will be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art, however, that the principles of the invention can be embodied in other ways. Therefore, the invention should not be regarded as being limited in scope to the specific embodiments disclosed herein, but instead as being fully commensurate in scope with the following claims. 

We claim:
 1. A method for displaying electronic communications, the method comprising: receiving an electronic communication from a sending user, the electronic communication including confidential information; receiving one or more biometric identifiers from a receiving user requesting access to the electronic communication, the one or more biometric identifiers being unique to the receiving user; verifying the one or more biometric identifiers against one or more previously stored biometric identifiers; in response to the verification, displaying the electronic communication to the receiving user for an amount of time, the amount of time ending when the verification fails resulting in the electronic communication being hidden; and providing varying levels of access to the electronic communication based upon which of the one or more biometric identifiers are received from the receiving user, a sequence of two or more biometric identifiers, a duration of the verification, and identification information associated with the receiving user, the identification information being distinct from the one or more biometric identifiers.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving user profile information from the receiving user, the user profile information including the one or more biometric identifiers; and storing the user profile information including the one or more biometric identifiers on a storage media to provide the one or more previously stored biometric identifiers.
 3. The method of claim 1, further comprising: displaying, to the receiving user, a transmission notification associated with the electronic communication to indicate receipt of the electronic communication.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the one or more biometric identifiers from the receiving user comprises receiving a sequence of biometric identifiers from the receiving user.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein when the verification fails, further comprising: performing an action selected from the group consisting of powering down a messaging device associated with the receiving user, displaying non-confidential information to the receiving user, and displaying selected information that is predetermined by the receiving user.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more biometric identifiers are selected from the group consisting of fingerprints, voice prints, retina features, and facial features.
 7. A system, comprising: a memory; and a processor configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to: receive an electronic communication from a sending user, the electronic communication including confidential information; receive one or more biometric identifiers from a receiving user requesting access to the electronic communication, the one or more biometric identifiers being unique to the receiving user; verify the one or more biometric identifiers against one or more previously stored biometric identifiers; in response to the verification, display the electronic communication to the receiving user for an amount of time, the amount of time ending when the verification fails or when the receiving user no longer requests access to the electronic communication thereby resulting in the electronic communication being hidden; and provide varying levels of access to the electronic communication based upon which of the one or more biometric identifiers are received from the receiving user, a sequence of two or more biometric identifiers, a duration of the verification, and identification information associated with the receiving user, the identification information being distinct from the one or more biometric identifiers.
 8. The system of claim 7, wherein the one or more biometric identifiers comprise two or more biometric identifiers that are provided in a sequence.
 9. The system of claim 8, wherein the two or more biometric identifiers are selected from the group consisting of fingerprint, vocal, retina, and facial identifiers.
 10. The system of claim 8, wherein the two or more biometric identifiers comprise fingerprint identifiers associated with a plurality of different fingers of the receiving user.
 11. The system of claim 8, wherein the two or more biometric identifiers are provided in the sequence within a predetermined time period.
 12. The system of claim 11, wherein when the sequence is input incorrectly or the predetermined time period has elapsed, the processor is further configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to: provide an altered or secondary sequence required to remove a messaging device associated with the receiving user from a locked-out mode and back to an operational mode.
 13. The system of claim 7, wherein the processor is further configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to: verify one or more pseudo-authorized conditions comprising variables associated with an authorization algorithm.
 14. The system of claim 12, wherein the processor is further configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to: receive a geo-location of the messaging device and mapping the geo-location to the electronic communication.
 15. The system of claim 7, wherein the confidential information comprises one or more data file folders. 